By the mid 1970’s radical changes had taken hold in western society, with massive attacks on family and faith.  The Roe vs. Wade court decision legalized abortion in the U.S.  Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Bible, were expunged from schools, and parental discipline was frowned upon.  The result was radical change and sweeping ungodliness.  Divorce rates began to skyrocket, and families were breaking down at record speed.   Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. “  As the enemy came in like a flood, God raised up Dr. James Dobson to lift up a standard against the enemy.  Today Dr. Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” is one of the most influential Christian organizations on earth.

Dr. Benjamin Spock was a paediatrician, and his book Baby and Child Care is one of the biggest best-sellers of all time, selling more than 50 million copies in 39 languages.  Most children of the era were raised on its permissive principles, devoid of discipline. False hope was offered that, if you hug your child, then there is no reason for disciplinary correction.  .   Proverbs 23 says, “ If you spare the rod you hate your son”, and this precept was ignored. Baby and Child Care’s gender-neutral language confused many children, and the permitting of bad behaviour was falsely revered as liberating.  The results ravaged young children like a flood.  However, “where sin abounds, grace abounds so much more”.

With the family under attack, Dr. James Dobson, a young Associate Clinical Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, decided to lift up the standard of Jesus Christ as well as Biblical family principles, as an escape from the nonsensical teachings of Dr. Spock.  Dr. Dobson countered Dr. Spock with a book called Dare to Discipline. It has sold more than 4.5 million copies, and was selected as one of 50 books to be rebound and placed in the White House Library. He has now written 36 books on the family.  He also launched a film series called, “Focus on the Family” that has now been seen by over 80 million people.   The success of the book and the film resulted in the founding of the ministry, “Focus on the Family” in 1977 with a daily radio broadcast that is now heard by 220 million people every day on more than 7,000 stations worldwide, in 164 countries. 

It is clear that the Spirit of the Lord has raised up a standard that is leading millions all over this globe.  The original Hebrew word that is translated “standard” is most often written in English as “to fly” or “escape”.  Dr. Dobson is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of  Church of the Nazarene evangelists. With such a heritage, he came to the life-changing knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ at a very young age.  Even as he studied to earn his Ph.D. in Psychology he knew that the only answer to life’s perplexing problems is to follow Jesus Christ and adhere to the teachings of God’s Word.  For over thirty years Dr. Dobson has lifted the standard high, offering a Biblical alternative to permissiveness, appeasement and relativism.

A chief concern of Dr. Dobson’s is the slipping away of freedom of speech, and freedom to preach the uncompromised Word of God. Last October I was invited by Pastor Jim Hagen to speak to pastors at a freedom of speech conference in Colorado Springs where Dr. Dobson’s 1,300 full-time employees work tirelessly to advocate for Biblical principles.  Another speaker at this event was Pastor Ake Green from Sweden.  Pastor Green was sentenced to 30 days in prison for preaching that homosexuality is a sin.  After many hearings and battles, his prison term was erased, but the threat of imprisonment in Sweden remains for those preaching God’s Word as it is written.  Dr. Green and I entered Dr. Dobson’s office for a short meeting.  Dr. Dobson warmly greeted us, and referred to Pastor Green as “his hero”. It is telling that Dr. Dobson’s hero is someone who stood against the authorities for the cause of Christ and freedom.

Dr. Dobson is very concerned with the state of marriage in Canada, citing the analogy that the U.S. is on the same railway track, with Canada just a little ahead.  Judges in Canada redefined marriage, and judges in the United States are attempting to do the same.  Dr. Dobson teaches that marriage is the critical component of the standard necessary for healthy family life.  In 2005 I had the privilege of leading the Defend Marriage Coalition that worked closely with his Focus on the Family Canada.  Dr. Dobson continues to fight valiantly to preserve this foundational institution from radical homosexual activists attempting to redefine marriage.  Focus on the Family was instrumental in California in helping to pass Proposition 8 that successfully established a Constitutional ban on homosexual marriage.

The homsexual community reacted harshly with protests, violence, and vandalism, exposing the true nature of their millitant agenda.  Dr. Dobson has fought this battle for years, recognizing that homosexual activists were no contest with freedom and equality, as they relentlessly attack freedom, marriage and the family.   In 1983 Dobson founded the Family Research Council as a political movement where "social conservative causes" could achieve political influence.  For over 25 years Dr. Dobson has realized that Christians must be the salt of the earth and give the nation the flavour of righteousness.  If we do nothing, then this millitant, anti-family movement will bring tremendous destruction to the moral fabric of the nation.  I met with several of Dobson’s researchers and policy developers who are dedicated to “the promotion of marriage and family, and the sanctity of human life in national policy.”  Through these efforts, millions of people have been mobilized in many nations to take their rightful position in democracy, taking a stand and making a difference.  Dr. Dobson is a frequent commentator on Fox News, CNN and other world-wide broadcasts.  Time Magazine calls Dobson "the nation's most influential evangelical leader".
Many of Dobson’s opponents wrongfully charge that he hates homosexuals--but nothing could be further from the truth.  Dobson has poured considerable resources and effort into his “Love One Out” initiative, extending a hand to homosexuals, and  leading them to God’s saving grace.  To date, they have held 52 conferences where participants hear "powerful stories of ex-gay men and women”.  Every conference is met with protest, but this has not deterred Dr. Dobson from doing what Scripture demands--reaching out to those in need.
As we talked about the slide of morality and ethics in our society, Dr. Dobson presented the question, “at what point does God close His ears and turn us over to our vile passions?”, citing the fact that King Saul became so wicked that God refused to hear his prayers.  With concern for America, he is worried that wickedness has come in like a flood, and may overtake the goodness of the nation.  My response was to quote Romans 1:25, 26, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections…”. When Adam betrayed God, he trusted the creation over the creator.  Today there is a strong hyper-environmental movement promoting the same lie: that we should serve the creation first.  I commended Dr. Dobson for taking a strong stand against Ted Haggard and Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals when they were attempting to lead Evangelicals into “Green Evangelism”.  In 2007, Dobson led 25 evangelical leaders who called for the resignation of National Association of Evangelical’s Vice President. Rev. Richard Cizik authored the “Revision Mandate”, teaching evangelicals to work to “heal the earth with the Blood of Christ which was shed to heal this planet.  Ted Haggard stepped down after it was discovered he was acting out his vile passions with homosexual prostitutes.  Richard Cizik was forced out after he spoke for support of same sex marriage.

Dr. Dobson continues to raise a standard based on the “foundations of Christ, himself being the chief corner-stone”.  His first level of ministry is to his wife Shirley, their two grown children, Danae and Ryan, and wife, Laura, and grandson.  Dobson is recognized inside the church, as well as outside.  He was appointed by Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush to the National Advisory Commission.  He has received too many awards to list, and last year was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. When the enemy comes in like a flood, God uses someone to lift up a standard.  In our generation that someone is Dr. James Dobson.